Background

In contrast with genetics, epigenetics does not alter the DNA sequence. It was a widely held thought that although the epigenome undergoes a process of reprogramming during gametogenesis and early embryo development, resulting epigenetic information could not be inherited by subsequent generations. There are growing pieces of evidence, recently, indicating that parentally acquired traits due to exposure to external environmental factors can be transmitted to offsprings via epigenetic mechanisms. Amongst others, diets and/or active ingredients from certain foods can be considered as external factors and can regulate epigenetic modifications to affect parental traits. Interestingly, some of these traits are transmittable from parents to offsprings.

Scope and approach

In this review, we summarized the mechanisms of generational epigenetic inheritance and focused on the epigenetic modulations caused by dietary factors/food active compounds. Diets and nutrition results in traits alterations, some of which are transmissible from parents to offsprings. Strictly put, the traits that could be inherited from parents are of two types: transgeneration and intergeneration. The inheritance of epigenetic information in germ cells without direct environmental stimulus, and which leads to offspring's phenotypic variation is called “transgeneration”, while generations directly exposed to the initial signal or environment are considered as “intergeneration”.

Key findings and conclusions

Dietary patterns including malnutrition, hyper-nutrition, special component's deficiency, all results in epigenetic alterations. If the alteration occurs in germ cells, the traits of parents can be transmitted to subsequent generations. A better understanding of the relationship between parental diet and offspring health will prevent certain related diseases, which has profound implications for the health of human and our progeny.

中文翻译：

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您会受到父母吃什么的影响：饮食，表观遗传学，转基因和间代遗传

背景

与遗传学相反，表观遗传学不会改变DNA序列。人们普遍认为，尽管表观基因组在配子发生和早期胚胎发育过程中经历了重新编程的过程，但由此产生的表观遗传信息不能被后代继承。最近，越来越多的证据表明，由于暴露于外部环境因素而导致的父母获得的性状可以通过表观遗传机制传播给后代。其中，某些食物的饮食和/或有效成分可被视为外部因素，可调节表观遗传修饰以影响父母的性状。有趣的是，其中一些特征可以从父母传给后代。

范围和方法

在这篇综述中，我们总结了世代表观遗传的机制，并着重于饮食因素/食物活性化合物引起的表观遗传调节。饮食和营养会导致性状发生变化，其中一些可以从父母遗传给后代。严格说来，可以从父母那里继承的特征有两种类型：转基因和间代。在没有直接环境刺激的情况下，生殖细胞中表观遗传信息的遗传并导致后代的表型变异被称为“转世”，而直接暴露于初始信号或环境中的世代被视为“世代”。

主要发现和结论

饮食模式包括营养不良，营养过度，特殊成分的缺乏，都会导致表观遗传改变。如果这种改变发生在生殖细胞中，则父母的性状可以被传给后代。更好地了解父母饮食与后代健康之间的关系将预防某些相关疾病，这对人类和我们后代的健康有着深远的影响。